The 15th National Assembly (NA) convened its fifth plenary session in Hanoi on May 22 morning, broadcast live on the channels of radio The Voice of Vietnam (VOV1), the Vietnam Television (VTV1), and the National Assembly TV.

During the session, the NA will consider and approve eight draft laws, three draft resolutions. Legislators will also give opinions on nine draft laws and look into socio-economic issues, the State budget, and supervision, among others.

Notably, NA deputies will scrutinise reports on supplementary assessments of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and State budget in 2022 and the first months of this year, ratify the State budget balance in 2021, and comment on the report on thrift practice and wastefulness prevention in 2022.

The NA will consider the supreme supervision for the mobilisation, management and use of resources serving the COVID-19 prevention and control; and the implementation of policies and laws on grassroots health and preventive medicine.

Besides, the legislators will make decisions relating to the investment of some projects, the further allocation of mid-term investment and capital sourced from the socio-economic recovery and development programme, and the adjustment and supplement of the charter capital of the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

The legislature will consider and approve resolutions on monitoring programmes and the establishment of a monitoring delegation of the legislative body in 2024.

Lawmakers will make decisions relating to the investment of some projects, the further allocation of mid-term investment and capital sourced from the socio-economic recovery and development programme, and the adjustment and supplement of the charter capital of the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee will present a report on public feedback in the fifth session.

NA deputies will also work on a report on supervision results of the settlement of voters' petitions sent to the fourth sitting of the 15th legislature, hold a question-and-answer session, and consider and approve the resolution of the fifth meeting.

The session will also discuss the personnel work, and consider and make decisions other important issues.

Northern region to have heavy rains

The northern and northern central region will see heavy rains from Monday evening following a severe week-long heat wave.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, the rainy weather will affect the whole region in two days from May 22-23 as a result of a low pressure, with an average rainfall of between 20-40mm in 24 hours, hitting even 60mm in some areas.

The rains will spread to the central region from Nghe An to Thua Thien-Hue provinces on May 23-24 with average rainfall of between 10-30mm or as high as 50mm in 24 hours in some areas.

In the central highlands and southern regions, the rainy season has also started with heavy rains reported over the past few days, causing floods in some low-land areas.

Before the rains arrive this evening, sunny and hot weather continues to plague the northern region today with temperatures reaching between 36-39 degrees Celsius. Some areas in the northwestern and central regions will even see temperatures reaching over 40 degrees Celsius today.

Vietnam vows to support Myanmar in promoting peaceful, sustainable solutions

Vietnam supports and appreciates the role of the ASEAN Chair in connecting with all stakeholders in finding a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Myanmar situation, as well as the bloc's efforts to promote humanitarian relief in the country and the repatriation process in Rakhine State, Minister Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, has said.

Addressing the UN Security Council’s Arria-formula meeting on the humanitarian situation in Myanmar on May 19 (local time), Thoa stressed that the process of solving the situation in Myanmar must be controlled and led by the country itself.

Relevant parties in the nation must fully and effectively implement the ASEAN-agreed Five-Point Consensus, end violence, ensure humanitarian and healthcare access for all, and create a favourable environment to promote dialogue and reconciliation.

Meanwhile, the international community needs to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN and UN agencies in coordinating humanitarian relief activities to ensure that relief goods reach needy people, especially women and children, while ensuring respect for Myanmar's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity, she said.

Regarding the situation of Rakhine State, the Vietnamese representative spoke highly of the recent initiative to start repatriation in the state through a pilot project, demonstrating a proactive approach in finding long-term solutions to the current situation. She called on the international community to increase financial support and coordinate to find a sustainable solution to issue.

In the face of heavy consequences and human losses caused by Cyclone Mocha, Thoa sent deep condolences and expressed sympathies to the people of Myanmar. As an active member of the UN and ASEAN, Vietnam continues to promote dialogue and reconciliation and narrow differences in order to assist Myanmar in reaching a solution to the current situation.

Speaking at the meeting, representatives of many countries raised concerns over the situation in Myanmar, condemning the use of force against civilians as well as the attack on a convoy of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and the ASEAN Monitoring Team in Myanmar.

They emphasised the need for a ceasefire and an end to violence, and to avoid the escalation of the situation, ensure humanitarian and healthcare access for all, observe international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and address differences and differences through dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with aspirations of the Myanmar people.

PM receives Japanese parliamentarians in Hiroshima

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received members of the Japanese National Diet with constituency in Hiroshima on May 21, within the framework of his trip to attend the G7 expanded Summit in Hiroshima and pay a working visit to Japan.

At the meeting, PM Chinh expressed his delight at the strong, comprehensive and substantive development of the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan, and the rapid development of bilateral exchanges between the two countries’ parliamentarians, and the cooperation and friendship between localities, including Vietnamese ones and Hiroshima prefecture.

He expressed his admiration for the aspiration for peace of Hiroshima leaders and people, and sympathised with the prefecture over its losses in the war. Vietnam wishes to promote a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons, the leader stressed.

He took the occasion to thank the Japanese National Diet for always supporting the development of the Vietnam-Japan relations, and conveyed National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s invitation to visit Vietnam to the Speakers of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors of Japan.

The PM proposed Japanese parliamentarians support the two countries’ relationship; contribute to strengthening exchanges and cohesion between the two parliaments and their members in a sustainable, substantive and mutually beneficial manner; and share experience in legal supervision and perfection of the legal system.

The Japanese parliamentarians spoke highly of Vietnam's active participation in and contribution to the success of the G7 expanded Summit;  and affirmed their desire to promote the Vietnam - Japan relations in general and cooperation between Hiroshima and Vietnamese localities in particular, and to actively participate in exchange and cooperation activities between the two parliaments, including the exchange of female parliamentarians. 

Member of the House of Representatives Hiroshi Hiraguchi, Chair of the House’s Special Committee on Political Ethics and Election Law, expressed his hope that the two countries will promote the people-to-people exchange, and there are more and more Vietnamese to come to study and work in Hiroshima.

PM receives Hiroshima Governor

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Yuzaki Hidehiko, Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, on May 21 within the framework of his trip to attend the expanded Summit of the Group of Seven (G7) and pay a working visit to Japan.

PM Chinh expressed his delight at the strong development of the Vietnam-Japan relations, as well as the rapid and substantive development of cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Hiroshima.

He suggested the Hiroshima Governor further promote collaboration with Vietnamese localities in investment, human resources development, and people-to-people exchange in the context of the two countries’ recent announcement of a direct air route between Hanoi and the Japanese prefecture; and encourage his prefecture’s businesses to invest in Vietnam in digital and green transformation, climate change response, processing, manufacturing, smart agriculture, wastewater treatment, and production of electronic components.

Governor Yuzaki Hidehiko described PM Chinh’s visit to Hiroshima and its Peace Memorial as an affirmation of his support for a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons.

He briefed the Vietnamese Government leader on the cooperation between Hiroshima and Vietnamese localities in recent years, affirming the desire to strengthen collaboration, investment and trade with Vietnamese localities, and to see more Vietnamese people studying and working in the prefecture.

Chinh took the occasion to invite the governor and other leaders of Hiroshima to visit Vietnam this year on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
 
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other delegation heads to the summit visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. (Photo:VNA)
On the same day, PM Chinh and other delegation heads to the summit visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Itsukaichi Wharf and the Suiso Frontier – the world's first liquefied hydrogen carrier.

President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to be closed for maintenance

The Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi will be closed from June 16 for yearly maintenance, according to its management board.

Work is expected to take almost two months, with re-opening planned for August 15. However, visitors can still pay homage at the nearby Monument for Heroic Martyrs.

Since its inauguration in 1975, the resting place of the founder of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, has been a magnet to both Vietnamese and foreigners. 

Around 52,250 visitors, including 2,900 foreigners, came to pay tribute to the late leader at his mausoleum during the three-day holiday from April 29 to May 1.

International Day for Biodiversity: Conservation for sustainable development

While Vietnam is ranked 16th among the countries possessing the highest biodiversity globally with rare and precious genetic resources, the country is facing a rapid degradation of biodiversity and other great challenges such as environmental pollution, land degradation, ocean plastic waste and other extreme impacts of climate change.

To call on countries to quickly turn commitments into actions to prevent and reverse biodiversity decline towards building a future of living in harmony with nature by 2050, the International Day for Biodiversity May 22 this year was launched by the United Nations (UN) with the theme "From Agreement to Action: Biodiversity Restoration".

At the 15th UN Biodiversity Conference (COP-15) by the end of last year, Vietnam and more than 190 member countries adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), aiming to guide the nature and biodiversity conservation globally by 2030, with a vision to 2050.

At the recent meeting discussing the National Biodiversity Conservation Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasised that the plan must harmonise two economic development goals and nature conservation.

Nature conservation should go one step before awakening the value of landscape and biodiversity resources to manage and exploit sustainably, bringing high economic efficiency.

Responding to the International Day for Biodiversity this year, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) issued Document 3290/BTNMT-TTTT on May 11 to instruct concerned organisations.

The MONRE asked agencies to strengthen communication and education to raise awareness about biodiversity and the role of biodiversity in sustainable development.

People should promote a lifestyle in harmony with nature, not hunting and using products derived from rare wild animals, fair and equitable sharing of benefits obtained from nature, reducing poverty and improving sustainable livelihoods for the community.

The National Strategy on Biodiversity to 2050 targets by 2030, the area of natural conservation zones on the mainland will reach 9% of the land area; the area of protected sea and coastal areas accounts for 3-5% of the national natural sea area; 70% of nature reserves and natural heritages are recognised for management effectiveness; the national forest coverage rate remains stable at 42-43%; and at least 20% of degraded natural ecosystems recover.

It also targets effectively conserving wild species, especially endangered, precious and rare species, preserving at least 100,000 genetic resources and minimising negative impacts on biodiversity.

In 2020, Vietnam had 178 conservation zones, including national parks, nature reserves, species-habitat conservation areas and landscape protection areas with 2.66 million hectares, according to the MONRE.

Great efforts to preserve and sustainably develop biosphere reserves

Management boards of biosphere reserves nationwide have taken initiatives and solutions to conserve and sustainably use natural resources, thus implementing Vietnam’s sustainable development goals and promoting tourism development, according to Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan.

The world biosphere reserves in Vietnam are not only UNESCO-recognised designations but are also gradually becoming models of sustainable socio-economic development for local communities, Nhan said.

As areas with special nature and biodiversity values, the 11 world biosphere reserves in Vietnam have been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and play a crucial role in conserving and developing ecosystems, preserving the environment and adapting to climate change.

According to Nguyen Chi Thanh, Director of the Research Centre for Forests and Wetlands under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, the wetland ecosystem in Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve in Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh City, is extremely valuable, helping create urban green areas and landscapes, protect and prevent coastal erosion, and respond to climate change, especially sea level rise and high temperature.

Meanwhile, Ca Mau Cape World Biosphere Reserve with the core areas of Ca Mau Cape National Park, U Minh Ha National Park and Western coastal protection forest of the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau, and its buffer zones, have created a large corridor of diverse landscapes and ecosystems, including mangrove ecosystems, mudflats, peat swamp forest and marine ecosystem. It is home to rich biological and geological resources with high conservation value.

Mangrove forests in the Ca Mau Cape National Park play an important role in protecting, preventing winds and erosion; improving the environmental, reducing temperature fluctuations, and regulating rainfall, contributing to climate change adaptation and rising sea levels.

A representative of the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve Management Board, said the unit has implemented various research, and conducted resource assessment programmes with the aim of increasing forest coverage, conserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable development.

It has also focused on conservation and development activities, promoting conservation and development efforts in buffer and transitional zones of the reserve; as well as investing in developing systems of bridges, roads, canals, and paths in the forest, facilitating the inspection and conservation work, and socio-economic development.

Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee issued a Resolution on developing Can Gio district until 2030, aiming to turn Can Gio into a high-end resort and eco-tourism city in the region.

To that end, efforts to manage, protect and sustainably develop the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve into a model of the harmonisation of biodiversity conservation and natural ecosystems, improvement of livelihood and community well-being, and promotion of traditional cultural values and sustainable green economic growth.

HCM City has mechanisms and policies in place to attract scientists, businesses, and the local community to actively join and collaborate with the municipal authorities in managing, conserving, restoring and developing mangrove forest areas to maximise the role and value of the biosphere reserve.

At the Ca Mau Cape Biosphere Reserve, management and conservation activities for natural resources and biodiversity conservation have been implemented actively through different measures.

The Ca Mau Cape Biosphere Reserve Management Board has cooperated with a number of organisations and units to investigate and build a database of wild animals in the Ca Mau Cape National Park.

Attention has been paid to combining conservation and development, and promoting ecotourism activities in localities, helping create livelihoods for locals, and protecting ecosystems and biodiversity of the biosphere reserve. 

Prof. Nguyen Hoang Tri, Chairman of the National Committee for Humans and Biosphere of Vietnam, said the successful conservation of biodiversity and nature in biosphere reserves in Vietnam is an important basis for attracting tourists and promoting tourism development.

Typical products and services associated with the biosphere reserves will contribute to promoting economic development and creating harmonious and sustainable development, he said.

MoU facilitates operation of Russian education centres in Vietnam

The Vietnam-Russia Traditions and Friendship Foundation and Herzen University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the operation of the Russian open education centres opened by the university in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Addressing the signing ceremony in Russia’s Saint Petersburg on May 19, Rector of Herzen University Sergei Tarasov said the document will create practical conditions for developing the teaching of the Russian language in Vietnam and of the Vietnamese language in Russia.

The chairpersons of the foundation and of the Oversea Vietnamese Association in Russia, Do Xuan Hoang, said the increasing number of those knowing the Russian language helps expand communication and understanding between the peoples.

The signing ceremony took place in conjunction with the end of a Vietnamese Week programme held by the Saint Petersburg authorities.

Earlier, Sergei Tarasov had a working session with the Vietnamese delegation involved in the pact to discuss comprehensive cooperation and partnership development matters. It is expected that first classes teaching the Russian language to Vietnamese people will be opened by Herzen University in the fall of this year.

Vietnam affirms commitment to full, responsible implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention

Vietnam's permanent representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Pham Viet Anh had affirmed the country's commitment to fully and responsibly implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) while attending the Fifth Review Conference to examine the CWC operation held in The Hague from May 15 to 19.

Anh, who is Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands, lauded significant achievements obtained by member states in the destruction of declared chemical weapons and the OPCW's indispensable role as an important tool to maintain security and peace for a world without chemical weapons in particular and weapons of mass destruction in general.

The ambassador reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent stance on backing non-proliferation of and complete and verifiable disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons. Vietnam condemns any use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, under any circumstances and for any motive, he stated. 

On the occasion, the Vietnamese delegation proposed that all activities of the OPCW should strictly comply with the functions and tasks specified in the CWC; their publicity, transparency, objectivity should be enhanced and politicisation prevented; and cooperation and dialogue should be promoted to resolve differences.

Vietnam urged the OPCW to promote its functions and capabilities to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of countries in developing the chemical industry safely and securely, for peaceful purposes; facilitate the utilisation of human resources from developing countries, with a focus on geographical balance; and support the idea of building and scaling up regional centres to pool resources serving the implementation of the convention, including carrying out an initiative to establish an ASEAN regional centre on CWC implementation capacity building.

Vietnam also suggested promoting the role of the Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech) in supporting equipment and training staff for member countries; and opening up more employment opportunities at ChemTech for officials from member countries, especially developing ones.

The CWC was signed in 1993 and came into force in 1997. Vietnam inked the convention from the first day – January 14, 1993. So far, the OPCW has been operating for 26 years and member countries have destroyed more than 99% of the declared chemical weapons under its control. The US has committed to destroy the remaining weapons before September 30 of this year.

Music gala features 200 artists

Nha Trang City will host a music gala featuring outdoor performances as part of its efforts to entertain and attract locals and visitors.

The gala, called Quê Hương Biển Gọi (Melodies of the Country and Sea), offers performances by more than 200 veteran and young singers, dancers, musicians, and theatre artists.

It is part of the 2023 Nha Trang-Khánh Hòa Sea Festival, which is scheduled to take place from June 3-6 in the south central province of Khánh Hòa.

The gala will offer Vietnamese songs and music pieces designed in new concepts by music stars such as Cẩm Vân, Khắc Triệu and Phương Vi.

Revolutionary music composed by Trần Hoàn and Phan Huỳnh Điểu will be highlighted.

The free performances of Quê Hương Biển Gọi will open at 8pm on June 3 in Nha Trang City’s April 2 Boulevard.

The 2023 Nha Trang-Khánh Hòa Sea Festival will take place from June 3 to 6 with more than 60 art and cultural events.

It is held every two years and has become a trademark of the beach resort city of Nha Trang since 2003.

The history, culture and people of Khánh Hòa will be highlighted during the festival.

Street art performances, sports competitions, tourism promotion events, and scientific and educational seminars will also be included.

The festival’s organiser, Khánh Hòa Province’s Department of Tourism, is expected to attract 100,000 visitors during the festival.

Last year, Khánh Hòa attracted 2.57 million tourists, raking in nearly VNĐ14 trillion (US$590.5 million) in tourism revenue.

This year, it targets four million tourists, including 1.5 million foreign visitors, and earning VNĐ21 trillion ($902.3 million). 

Runners, table tennis players to compete abroad before Asian Games

With no time to rest after the 32nd SEA Games, runners and table tennis players will participate in international competitions ahead of the Asian Games.

A 14-strong track-and-field team will compete at the Taiwan Athletics Opens in New Taipei City, Taiwan (China), on May 27-28.

Among the competitors are SEA Games medallists Nguyễn Thị Oanh, Nguyễn Thị Huyền, Nguyễn Thị Hằng, Nguyễn Tiến Trọng and Lương Đức Phước.

Oanh won four 32nd SEA Games golds in the women's 1,500m, 5,000m, 10,000m and 3,000m steeplechase. She also secured gold in the 1,500m event at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship. The coaching board will decide which category she participates in when they arrive in Taipei on May 25.

Huyền and Hằng and their two male teammates Trần Nhật Hoàng and Trần Đình Sơn, who won SEA Games mixed team gold, will test their skills in both individual and team events.

Huyền took silver while Hằng earned a bronze in the women's 400m in Cambodia.

Phước will debut in Taipei in the men's 800m and 1,500m. He secured two silvers in these events in the Phnom Penh competition

Meanwhile, Trọng will aim at a top-three finish in the men's long jump. He finished second in the SEA Games.

On the table tennis side, the team, including SEA Games champions Trần Mai Ngọc and Đinh Anh Hoàng, will have a friendly tournament in the US next month.

Other athletes are Lê Đình Đức, Nguyễn Thị Nga và Nguyễn Khoa Diệu Khánh.

Đức and Khánh won men's and women's individual bronze medals while Nga, Khánh and Ngọc secured a bronze in the women's team in the Cambodian Games.

They are invited to compete with clubs in Houston, Texas.

According to the coaching board, athletes will return to training this week before leaving for the tournaments on June 3.

The Taipei and Houston events were considered important warm-ups for the Vietnamese team ahead of the 19th Asian Games in September in China.

Việt Nam's best athletics results in Asian Games were two golds in women's long jump by Bùi Thu Thảo and women's 400m hurdles by Quách Thị Lan in the 2018 edition in Indonesia.

Table tennis has not made the top three ever. 

Vietnamese and Ukrainian costumes debut in Hanoi fashion show

Collections of Ao Dai, Vietnam’s traditional long dress, and Ukraine’s Vyshyvanka, an embroidered outfit, were introduced at a fashion show and a photo exhibition held in Hanoi on May 21.

Vietnamese fashion designer Le Thi Lan Huong brought her Ao Dai collection of 30 silk outfits featuring patterns of rural areas, Dong Ho folk painting, upland children, and terraced fields.

Ukrainian designer Oksana Polonets presented a Vyshyvanka fashion collection comprising 32 outfits for the whole family in daily lives and wedding ceremonies.

The collection showcases Ukraine's age-old sophisticated embroidery techniques which boast colourful floral patterns in a modern style.

The fashion show, jointly organised by the Embassy of Ukraine in Vietnam and the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, helped audiences discover many interesting similarities of traditional costumes of both Vietnam and Ukraine. The costumes are both graceful and make use of sophisticated hand-embroidery techniques which play an important part in the long-standing cultures of the two countries.

A photo exhibition on Ukrainian costumes was also held during the event, giving visitors the chance to learn more about the beauty of traditional embroidered costumes from different regions across the Eastern European country.

Vietnamese, Iranian law enforcement agencies strengthen cooperation

A high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of Public Security led by Minister General To Lam paid a working visit to Iran from May 19-22 at the invitation of Iranian Minister of Interior Ahmad Vahidi.

During the visit, Lam met with Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, and held talks with Ahmad Vahidi and Minister of Justice Amin Houssein Rahimi. He also met with chief commander of Law Enforcement Command Ahmad Reza Radan.

During the visit, the Ministry of Public Security delegation attended a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Iran (August 4, 1973 - August 4, 2023), which was jointly organised by the Embassy of Vietnam in Tehran and Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnamese naval ship joins Int’l Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia

Ship 20 of the Naval Region 3’s Brigade 172 with a working delegation of the Vietnam People’s Navy on board arrived in Malaysia’s Langkawi to attend the 16th International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2023.

Accordingly, from May 23-28, the ship and the working delegation will participate in LIMA 2023 activities, including display of naval vessels, an exhibition to introduce career opportunities in the Malaysian navy, ship parade, LIMA exercise at sea.

 Welcoming Malaysian navigators and liaison officers to Ship 20 (Photo: VNA)
Ship 20 is a Pohang-class corvette received from the Republic of Korea Navy in October 2018.

This is the third time the Vietnam People’s Navy has sent its ships to LIMA, after 2017 and 2019.

EC to send IUU inspection team to Vietnam in October

An inspection team from the European Commission (EC) will visit Vietnam to examine the country’s efforts on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing prevention and control in October instead of May as it announced earlier, Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said on May 21.

Luan said that the EC suggested the organisation of online working sessions with Vietnamese authorities in May, June and October before sending the team to Vietnam.

In late May, a MARD delegation will have in-person working sessions with EC representatives to update them on Vietnam’s achievements in IUU fishing prevention and control with the hope of narrowing the EC’s recommendations to Vietnam.

Since the EC’s inspection in last October, Vietnam has worked hard to implement four groups of the EC’s recommendations on IUU fishing prevention and control, including those on legal framework; fishing vessel monitoring and control, and fleet management; seafood output verification and origin traceability; and law enforcement.
 
The MARD has also set up working groups to inspect the situation in coastal localities and instruct them in rolling out measures against IUU fishing and implementing the EC's recommendations.

Meanwhile, ministries and central agencies as well as localities have focused on realising their tasks of IUU fishing combat, preventing and settling ships violating foreign waters and IUU fishing activities.

Luan urged ministries, sectors and localities to work harder to fix existing problems, step up communications on regulations against IUU fishing, and prepare to receive the EC inspection team, thus persuading the EC to remove the “yellow card” against Vietnamese seafood exports.

According to the Directorate of Fisheries, as of April 30, up to 28,797 out of 29,489 fishing vessels nationwide had installed the vessel monitoring systema (VMS). The majority of the remaining vessels have been out of service and kept ashore.

Vietnamese students bag third prize at 2023 Regeneron ISEF

A Vietnamese project has won third prize at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2023 Grand Awards, making Vietnam one of 33 countries and territories to be honoured at the competition.

The prize was presented to the project “The Neuropharmacological Effects of Leaves and Fruits Essential Oils From Litsea cubeba Based on Network Pharmacology” in the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics category developed by Nguyen Thi Mai Anh and Nguyen Binh Giang of HUS High School for Gifted Student in Hanoi.

Another project on “Quadruped Robot Model Assisting With Searching and Rescuing People in Landslide-Stricken Areas” by Le Minh Duc and Le Nguyen Trung Kien of Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in Ho Chi Minh City earned Special Awards presented by the US Agency for International Development.

The competition was held in Dallas, USA, from May 14 to May 19, attracting the participation of 1600 students with 1,302 projects from across the world. Vietnam sent seven projects to the event.

The ISEF is the world's largest global science competition for high school students. Through a global network of local, regional, and national science fairs, millions of students are encouraged to explore their passion for scientific inquiry.

Friendship table-tennis tournament connects Vietnamese nationals in Europe

Approximately 150 Vietnamese players residing in eight European nations took part in a friendly table-tennis tournament held in the German capital of Berlin on May 21.

In his opening speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh spoke highly of the sports movements among the Vietnamese expat communities in Europe, and expressed hope that these movements will be further developed moving forward in a bid to strengthen solidarity among the communities.

The table-tennis tournament is a major sporting activity attracting Vietnamese nationals throughout Europe. Every year the tournament is held alternately in countries such as Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland.

This year the tournament brought together the largest number of athletes so far with 150 players of different ages from 9 to 82.

The players were divided into eight groups competing in a round robin format, with the top two winning players from each group progressing to the finals.

The tournament has been resumed following a three-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia – Vietnam Higher Education Partnerships 2023 launched in Hanoi and HCM City

Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) with support from the Australian Department of Education, has delivered the Australia – Vietnam Higher Education Partnerships in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, connecting more than 150 Australian and Vietnamese institutions to exchange ideas and explore partnerships.

Education is a key pillar of the Australia - Vietnam relationship. This initiative capitalises on the strong interest of Australian and Vietnamese higher education institutions in TNE partnerships arising from years of engagement. The program follows on from a conference on cooperation and investment in education hosted by the Ministry of Education and Training in September 2022 and an earlier industry webinar conducted by Austrade in August 2021.

The events provided a platform for both sides to discuss key topics in current higher education landscape and meet face-to-face to explore institutional linkages, multi-facet collaborations and commercial partnerships. 

“Vietnam and Australia have built a strong strategic partnership over the past 50 years of diplomatic engagement. Collaboration between Australia and Vietnam in people-to-people links like education is one of the cornerstones of our bilateral relationship and is one of our most enduring areas of engagement. Our strong education ties with Vietnam are demonstrated at both government and institutional levels. It is amazing to see how our education cooperation has evolved over recent decades," said Rebecca Ball, senior trade and investment commissioner, Austrade Vietnam.

The education cooperation is growing and diversified, ranging from student mobility with Vietnam being the 5th largest source country of international students in Australia to education partnerships such as joint programs through transnational education (TNE) with over 20,000 Vietnamese students pursuing Australian qualifications in Vietnam. There are over 80,000 Vietnamese alumni graduated from Australian education institutions currently working in Vietnam.

Australia is increasingly becoming a strategic education partner for Vietnam and a top TNE collaborator involved in 300 collaborative programs which vary from undergraduate to postgraduate, from articulation to joint programs and other research activities. These cover a broad range of disciplines including law, business, IT, engineering, healthcare, tourism and agriculture with strong interest from Australia and Vietnam to build new partnerships.

Australia – Vietnam Higher Education Partnerships 2023 attracted the participation of seventeen Australian universities and institutions with strong attendance of Vietnamese institutions from many different cities and provinces across Vietnam. Panel discussions covered key topics of current education market, from the readiness for partnerships to aligning such partnerships to Vietnam’s future jobs and industry demand as well as developing graduate employability through institutional and industry linkages.

Classical Indian dances hit stage in Can Tho

An art programme was held in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on May 21, featuring performances staged by local artists and classical Indian dancers.      

The programme was co-hosted by the Union of Friendship Organization of Can Tho City and the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and India (1972).

In his opening remarks, Nguyen Thuc Hien, vice chairman of the municipal administration, said the cultural event helps Vietnamese people gain a greater understanding of Indian culture, and at the same time promote mutual understanding and the friendship between the two countries.

Present at the event, Madan Mohan Sethi, consul general of India in Ho Chi Minh City, noted that the art programme is being held alongside a webinar on investment and trade promotion between India and Can Tho City, contributing to consolidating and boosting the traditional relations between the two countries.

The programme would help promote the effective cooperation that exists between Vietnamese and Indian partners, the Indian diplomat.

Bharatanatyam is an Indian classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu. The word Bharatam is also seen as a backronym; with bha standing for bhavam, such as feelings and emotions; ra for ragam, such as melody or framework for musical notes; and tam being for talam, a rhythm.

With six performances each lasting seven to 15 minutes, the Indian repertoire group excited audiences through Indian stories.

Vietnam wins medals at Thailand Open Grand Prix 2023

Vietnamese jujitsu fighters brought home one silver and two bronze medals at the Thailand Open Grand Prix 2023 which concluded on May 21.  

Hoang Thi Nhat Que won a silver medal after losing out to Thai rival Akkajan Kamolwan in the women’s 63kg fighting category.

Que earlier also bagged a bronze medal in the women’s 63kg ne-waza category.

Her teammate, Dang Thuy Van, grabbed a bronze medal in the women’s 57kg fighting category, while the championship title went to Menman Kanlayanapim of hosts Thailand.

Despite her great effort, Nguyen Thi Minh Vuong, another Vietnamese fighter, finished seventh in the final.

Thailand Open Grand Prix 2023 was the first global tournament that local jujitsu fighters have competed in after the recent 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) in Cambodia.

It is part of the Grand Prix competition system of the World Jujitsu Federation and is held at different locations across the world.

The tournament helps competitors to prepare for the upcoming Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Mongolia and the Hangzhou Asian Games (ASIAD) in China.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes